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The Nike Blazer Mid ’77 and Blazer Mid ’77 Vintage have grown in popularity. These shoes deliver a vintage and classic look, which makes them great for daily wear. They’re starting to slowly replace my Converse and Vans as the go-to casual shoe for lifting.
After training in and testing the Nike Blazer Mid ’77 Vintage, I get the hype behind this shoe. They deliver a strong performance in the shoe with a good amount of stability and maneuverability and deliver a really good casual appearance.
I really like the Blazer mid for lifting, but there are a couple of cons to note. For example, if you wear these, most will probably call you a “gym basic,” but whatever—I like how they look, and I rock my basic with pride.
Who Should Invest In the Nike Blazer Mid ’77 Vintage?
The Nike Blazer Mid ’77 Vintage is an overall pretty good shoe for working out and daily wear. This model delivers a durable upper construction and stable sole construction for recreational lifting and general strength training.
If you want this shoe for both lifting and daily wear, then I think you’ll enjoy the overall construction of this model, especially if you’re investing in them for their classic and vintage look. They perform similarly to a Converse Chuck Taylor All-Sta so I could easily see this as being the next iteration of that shoe in the gym.
That being said, I like the Nike Blazer Mid ’77 Vintage for general lifting and it does an exceptional job at remaining stable under heavyweights. If you like this shoe’s look and vibe, then I think you’ll enjoy them for recreational lifting and strength work.
Nike Blazer Mid '77 Vintage
$100
Pros
- Stable for lifting
- Classic appearance
- Grippy outsole
Cons
- Lacks breathability
- Narrower toe box
- Lacks overall versatility
Best For
- Recreational Lifting
- Barbell Training
- Daily and Casual Wear
Specs
| Heel-to-Toe Drop | 5mm |
| Weight | 13.8 oz (size 10) |
| Width | Narrow/Medium |
| Lifting Threshold | ~530 lbs |
| Run Distance Threshold | <1 mile |
Nike Blazer Mid ’77 Vintage Pros
Across the board, I’ve found multiple things to like about the Nike Blazer Mid ’77 Vintage for both daily wear and working out.
- Good Shoe for Recreational Lifting and Training
- Great for Casual and Daily Wear
- Throwback Vintage Look With Pretty Good Durability
The first thing to like about the Nike Blazer Mid ’77 Vintage is that they’re a pretty good shoe for recreational lifting and general training. If you’re reading this article because you were interested in these shoes for lifting, then I think you’ll enjoy their performance.
The midsole and outsole in this shoe are durable and stable under heavier weight, and their outsole moves pretty well. In fact, I noticed that this model moved and articulated better than my Vans Sk8-Hi and the sole doesn’t feel as clunky as my Vans, so if you’re worried about this being too stiff in the gym, I don’t think you’ll have to stress this.
Plus, this shoe is fairly stable across the board so you can lift heavy in them. I’ve deadlifted over 455 lbs in my model with no compression issues and have done heavy walking lunges in them to test their stability for unilateral leg work and they were solid.
The stack height in this shoe is also pretty good despite the fact that they have a thicker midsole. This shoe has a pretty deep fit to them and they get you closer to the ground in things like deadlifts compared to most Vans and Converse models when the insoles are left in.
Another perk of this shoe is its classic and vintage look. This model is designed to give a nod to some of the first Nike shoes that debuted in the 1970s, and Nike kept the appearance of these shoes similar to what they offered decades ago.
This vintage and simplistic approach has made this model an overall attractive shoe that can work well with multiple outfits in different scenarios. You can rock this shoe for semi-formal occasions and they look great and they look good with shorts and pants.
The last thing to like about the Nike Blazer Mid ’77 Vintage is that they have overall good durability to them. They feature an autoclave midsole and outsole which means the midsole and outsole are fused together. This is great for preventing midsole breakdown or any forms of outsole lipping and breakdown.
In addition, I like the synthetic and leather upper because it’s fairly easy to clean and has pretty good abrasion resistance. The only drawback to this shoe’s durability that I’ve noticed could be the tongue in specific settings and I’ll discuss this below in more depth in my cons section.
Nike Blazer Mid ’77 Vintage Cons
Despite liking the Nike Blazer Mid ’77 Vintage as a whole, there are a couple of cons to note about this shoe.
- Breaking Them In Can Be Rough On Achilles
- Exposed Foam Tongue May Be a Turnoff for Some
The first drawback to the Nike Blazer Mid ’77 Vintage is that they can be a little tough on the Achilles when breaking them in. This shoe’s boot is built with a leather and synthetic upper and it’s a little rigid when first breaking them in.
This rigidity can cause a little bit of rub on the Achilles and I think this will be even more noticeable for those with thicker ankles who plan to work out in this shoe. I’d highly suggest wearing long and thick socks when breaking this shoe in to prevent any Achilles rub.
After about a week or two with long socks, the boot should start feeling a little bit better and it should stretch to accommodate your anatomy. This is always the risk you run when rocking mid and high-top shoes, especially if you plan to work out in them.
The second drawback is that the exposed foam tongue may not be for everyone. This model features a tongue that has exposed foam on its side and this is designed to replicate the vintage Nike Blazer look.
This is a feature that definitely has a required taste and if you’re not a fan of the exposed foam look, then this could be a drawback. Plus, I could see the exposed foam being a little problematic for durability if you wear these outdoors and it’s raining or if you’re training in them and there’s a lot of abrasion on your upper boot.
Performance
To discuss the performance of the Nike Blazer Mid ’77 Vintage, I’m going to talk about how this performs in a variety of settings. This shoe is designed to be more of a daily wear shoe, but a lot of lifters enjoy training in them.
That being said, I’m going to speak on how this performs in the gym and for lifting and talk about their performance for daily wear. This can hopefully help you contextualize if this shoe is a good pick for your wants and needs.
Nike Blazer Mid ’77 Vintage for Lifting and Working Out
Across the board, the Nike Blazer Mid ’77 Vintage has been a strong performer in the gym. I was most curious to see how their midsole and outsole performed in comparison to similar shoes like the Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star and Vans Classic and Sk8-Hi.
Three pros come along with this shoe for lifting and working out and one subtle drawback. The first pro is that midsole and outsole construction in this shoe provide a good amount of stability. If you’re a recreational lifter that likes to train heavy here and there, then this model should have no issues accommodating your loading tasks.
The second pro is that leather and synthetic upper provide a good amount of durability, especially for general training purposes. I don’t think the upper in this shoe will break down very quickly which is good for making your investment go the distance with this shoe if you plan to lift in them.
The final aspect to like about this model is that the sole has a good amount of articulation once it’s broken in, despite this model being a mid-top model. In lunges, split squats, and other exercises where the foot needs to be highly mobile this shoe never limited my performance or ability to grip the floor.
As an added perk on this final pro, the toe spring in this model is also pretty good. It’s easy to ground the feet with this shoe in exercises like deadlifts, Romanian deadlifts, and kettlebell swings.
The drawback to this model is that you’ll be capped with this model’s versatility due to its slightly thicker upper and they can run a little hot. However, I think if you go into this shoe understanding that it’s better served for recreational lifting and not cross-training, then you’ll enjoy this shoe’s performance.
Nike Blazer Mid ’77 Vintage for Daily Wear and Walking
On a daily wear basis, I really enjoy the Nike Blazer Mid ’77 Vintage and that’s for two key reasons. First, I like that this shoe works for so many different outfits in a variety of settings. It’s an easy shoe to rock out and about without worrying about their appearance or formality.
Second, I like that this model works well for walking and using as a daily driver, and they can be seamlessly worn to the gym. For example, if you want a shoe for wearing to work, then to the gym for tackling some lifting this is a good model to look into.
The rubber outsole with the herringbone tread patterning gives a good amount of traction and the sole of this moves pretty well for they’re fairly easy to wear for long durations. Plus, this is a good all-season style of shoe that can work in the winter and summer.
Once again though, when breaking this shoe in, I’d suggest wearing longer socks and potentially easing into the lengths of time in which you want to wear them. This will prevent you from running into potential Achilles rub issues, then being stuck with the shoes all day because you didn’t bring a backup pair to swap on once they got uncomfortable.
Nike Blazer Mid ’77 Vintage Vs Converse
When first seeing and testing the Nike Blazer Mid ’77 Vintage, I got Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star vibes from them. I think this is due to both of these shoes having a vintage look while delivering a simplistic construction for daily wear and working out.
I wanted to discuss a few key differences between Nike Blazer Mid ’77 Vintage vs Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars. The first difference is in each of these shoes’ midsole and outsole constructions and how they fit and feel.
The Converse features a rubber outsole with the classic vintage Converse midsole construction. The outsole on this model can start to break down and lose its grip after a few months of heavy wear.
The Nike Blazer has a fused midsole and outsole construction. The outsole is fully rubber with a herringbone tread pattern that does a slightly better job with traction and durability compared to the Converse.
Another difference is their upper construction. The Converse features a lightweight canvas upper that starts to lose its shape a little bit after a couple of months of wearing them.
The upper in the Nike Blazer Mid is composed of leather and synthetic materials and it’s heavier compared to the Converse’s canvas. Both uppers are good, but for slightly different reasons. For example, the Nike Blazer is a better shoe for colder months, but it also runs a little hotter in the gym.
The final difference worth noting, especially in the context of working out is that the Converse has a 0mm heel-to-toe drop, and the Nike Blazer Mid ’77 has a 5mm heel-to-toe drop. This changes how each model feels and performs in the gym slightly.
Winner: Both are good. However, I do like the Nike Blazer Mid ’77 a little bit more and that’s due to their sole construction and appearance. Then again, if you’re trying to save a little money, then you can’t go wrong with the Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star.
Nike Blazer Mid ’77 Vintage Sizing
For most, you should be safe going true to size in the Nike Blazer Mid ’77 Vintage. Their length fits true and they have what I would describe as a neutral width.
In addition, there’s also about a week-long break-in period before the boot of the shoe feels more comfortable so if they feel a little “stiff” when you put them on, then I’d suggest giving them about a week or two to start feeling normal.
Lastly, when breaking this shoe in, I’d highly suggest wearing longer socks to prevent Achilles
- Nike Blazer Mid ’77 Sizing Thoughts: Go true to size. If you have a wide foot, then go up a .5 size to be safe.
If you have additional sizing and fit questions about the Nike Blazer Mid ’77 or how they compare to other shoes, drop a comment below.
Price Breakdown
For the Nike Blazer Mid ’77 Vintage, you can expect to pay $100 USD. This price point is higher than what a comparable model like a Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star High-Top costs, however, I think the price point of this shoe could be justified.
More specifically, where the Nike Blazer Mid ’77 Vintage excels compared to more budget-friendly models is with its overall appearance and vintage look. This model works well as a daily wear shoe and goes well with multiple outfits while also being a pretty good shoe for working out.
If you like the appearance of this model and the 1970s throwback vibe they deliver, then I could see the price being more worth it.
Construction Details
There are a lot of subtle construction features on the Nike Blazer Mid ’77 that I feel get overlooked or misunderstood. For example, if you look around online, then you’ll see multiple comments in reviews about the tongue not being finished.
The exposed foam on the tongue is on purpose and its intent is to replicate the old school 1970s Nike look and give a nod to the original models that the ’77 and ’77 Vintage are designed to replicate.
- Heel-to-Toe Drop: 5mm
- Weight: 13.80 oz (for my size 10 model)
- Removable Insole: No
- Leather and Synthetic Upper
- Rubber Outsole With Herringbone Tread
- Exposed Foam On Tongue
- Autoclave Construction to Fuse Midsole/Outsole
- Vintage Treatment On Midsole
If you have additional questions on the construction of the Nike Blazer Mid ’77 Vintage, drop a comment below.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q:What's the difference between Nike Blazer Mid 77 and Vintage?
Q:Are Nike Blazer Mid 77 good for winter?
Q:Is Nike mid blazer true to size?
Q:How to lace the Nike Blazer Mid 77?
Takeaway Thoughts
I’m not going to lie, I was a little reluctant to like the Nike Blazer Mid ’77 Vintage at first and I think a lot of this was due to their popularity on social media in the fitness world. Plus, as a Converse and Vans fan, I think I also had a little chip on my shoulder there because how could these replace my beloved Converse and Vans?
Overall, I’m impressed with Nike Blazer Mid ’77 Vintage and they’ve grown me a lot. The style is clean and simplistic and in the gym, they’re strong performers.
If you have additional questions on the Nike Blazer Mid ’77, drop a comment below or reach out to me personally via Instagram (@jake_boly).
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